The Dutch province of Noord-Brabant and the Dutch communities of Aalburg, Werkendam and Woudrichem are confronted with a shrinking public transport service in the Land van Altena region. Rural areas receive scarce attention from the transport companies, while the local and regional governments do not consider as their task to develop public transport services themselves. No concept of a renewed public transport network was available for tendering among transport companies. The answer to this standstill was found through a price contest, dedicated to the problem and possibilities of the region. This paper gives a summary of the idea of the contest and what was learned from it. The results and consequences surprised all the partners in the process. Public transport in rural areas received new perspectives. Eight projects have emerged to give content to that perspective. The most important project is to create a regional bureau or company that has an intermediary task between the transport companies, governments and customers. Thus it is possible to push forward the development of public transport dynamically and energetically, in alliance with the region. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD E206647.
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